privileged to work as with well. >> thanks for watching. nbc "nightly news" is next. we'll see you at 6:00. tonight chaotic scenes as thousands of people are stopped at the guatemala/mexico border. some seeking asylum in mexico, many others hoping to make it to the united states. the president makes the caravan a political issue. is it voter suppression? with just weeks until the elections, why more than 50,000 voters are on hold in georgia, almost three quarters of them african-americans. after saudi arabia explains what led to the killing of jamal khashoggi, president trump calls it an important first many others are calling it a cover-up. the biggest lottery jackpot ever, what would you do with $1.6 billion? and down for the count, the surprising benefits of boxing to help knock out the

symptoms of a debilitating disease. good evening, we begin tonight with a growing humanitarian crisis. thousands of people caught between countries and desperate to get to ours. they've been walking for a week through central america. and at this hour, they are stranded in sweltering heat, stalled on a bridge on mexico's border with guatemala, most of them hope for a new life in the united states. and now find themselves caught in a political tug of war. gabe gutierrez is in the middle of it all in guatemala. >> reporter: it is crowded and chaotic. thousands of migrants, mostly from honduras are stopped at the guatemala/mexico border, pleading to get through. desperate for food and water. susannah delgado has been sleeping on the ground here for days.

>> her son is 11 years old. and she left because of the violence. >> reporter: their journey began more than a week ago in honduras, a planned 2,800 mile trek through central america, mexico and eventually hoping to reach the u.s. border. they clashed with mexican police here, wearing riot shields. some jumped into the river, using rafts to get across. the officers unleashing tear gas. mexican authorities are allowing a small number to pass. they're taken to this shelter. families clustered together. some sleeping on the floor, exhausted. >> gabe, caravans like this occur quite frequently from central america. how is this one different? >> reporter: this one is larger than usual. up to 5,000 my grants made the initial trek from honduras. and this caravan may have seeds of political undertones.

>> mexico is letting a few in, slamming the doors to others. this is different, why? >> mexico's president says any aggre be ssors order process. at this point they're allowing 10 or 20 migrants at a time over t border at a time. they ask for refugee status and they'll be processed and bussed to a nearby shelter, where they're told they may have to wait up to 45 days, gabe. >> the suffering there is immense? >> reporter: that's exactly right. the people we've seen behind me, they tell us they are desperate, fleeing violence, poverty and hunger. and they're willing to risk it all to leave their home country. and they're asking for the trump administration for compassion. >> gabe gutierrez, thank you. president trump has made this latest migrant crisis a political issue yet again. as he campaigns for candidates in the midterm elections. the president was in nevada today. as was former vice president joe biden. white house correspondent kelly o'donnell has been today from president

trump. insisting he will block thousands of migrants heading north. >> i will seal off the border before they come into this country. i'll bring out our military. not our reserves, the military. >> reporter: hitting the immigration hot buttons, the president stoked fears. the dramatic flow of my grants is supported -- of migrants is supported by the democrats. >> the democrats want caravans, they like the caravans. >> reporter: president trump wrapping up his three-day western swing, ist so you got to get out. >> reporter: democrats see nevada as their best chance to flip a senate seat. today in las vegas, former vice president joe biden dealt some tolo >> i'm so tired of democrats walking around like woe is me, things are so bad, what are we going to do. i've had it up to here. >> reporter: today's s,

to turn out the vote now and over the next two weeks. >> it's enough for us to show who they are, we have to tell them who we are. what do we stand for? what do we stand for? what does the democratic party stand for today? >> reporter: but each rally also appeared to look beyond this november, to a possible 2020 matchup. >> it's all about donald, it's not about anything else. >> i wish biden the best, i hope he's going to be the nominee actually. i mean, 1% joe. >> reporter: nevada is so contested, barack obama will also be campaigning there for democrats monday. presidtrng munext two weeks. trying to hammer home to voters what advisers call his closing argument. >> kelly o'donnell at the white house, thank you. with 17 days until the midterm elections,

there's a huge push to get people to get out and vote. that could be difficult for tens of thousands of people. especially in georgia, where more than 50,000 voters are in limbo. nbc's rehema ellis explains how it happened and why some are claiming voter suppression. >> reporter: marshall appling nunez was showing her college students how to register to vote online when she got a rude awakening. after casting ballots in elections since she was 18, she discovered she was no longer registered. >> you were in disbelief? >> yeah. definitely embarrassed. >> how did this happen? georgia has an exact match law, requiring ste records. if a single letter, a hyphen, an abbreviation or anything is out of place, the registration goes on a pending list. a in appling was missing. the exact match law seems to be discriminating by race.

an associated press analysis shows nearly 70% of voters with pending status are black, in a state that's on 32% black. >> we are georgia. >> democrat stacey abrams is running for georgia governor, against republican brian kemp, secretary of state, who's also in charge of voter registration. >> i have an opponent who's an architect of the voter suppression. >> reporter: he refused our request for an interview. but on fox news, denies abrams' claims. >> that's a smoke screen trying to hide her radical views. those folks on the pending list, all they have to do is o the polls, show their photo i.d. and vote. >> he's not even allowing those legally permitted to vote to cast a ballot in the state without fear of being blocked or suppressed. >> reporter: civil rights groups have now sued the secretary of state's office and kemp, alleging the exact match law has a discriminatory impact on african-americans, latino and asian-american applicants.

>> why is it being implemented differently. >> reporter: in gwinnett county, where nearly 60% are minorities, nearly one in ten ballots are being rejected, according to the lawsuit. by one analysis that's 12 times the reject rate of the rest of the state. but he says they're just following the letter of the state law. >> but the law is the same in 159 counties. why is it being implemented differently in gwinnett county, compared to all the other counties? >> reporter: after weeks and numerous attempts to correct her status, marcia was cleared. what would you advise other people to do? >> stay diligent. >> reporter: this rehema ellis, nbc ws ten days after hurricane michael slammed into florida's

gulf coast, there's growing concerned. so many are on edge, worried about their personal safety and protecting their property from looting. tammy leitner has more. >> reporter: there's a sense of lawlessness following hurricane michael. >> i've been told by the police department, they're not going to stop them. >> reporter: marty is armed and ready to protect the shop from looters. >> they don't have the capacity to hold off these looters. it's up to us as citizens to try to do this for ourselves. >> reporter: everywhere you turn, call it the wild west. >> if they have a pistol, they better be a hell of a shot. the shotgun is going to do more. >> reporter: ricky calls it survival. >> if someone comes to my house and tries to loot. they're not going to walk away. >> reporter: she sleeps in a tent in the driveway. while her husband keeps watch in a folding chair. >> we can't leave our home. >> reporter: bay county sheriff says they've arrested 19 people for looting since the hurricane.

what would you say to residents who are worried? >> we have a lot of resources here. >> reporter: the sheriff says there are an additional 600 police officers and national guard on patrol. that hasn't kept some from taking the law into their own hands. six armed militia members were arrested in mexico beach after curfew thursday night. police say they were so-called oath keepers, an anti-government organization. a new wave of fear and concern, some ten days after the storm. tammy leitner, nbc news, panama city, florida. president trump finds the saudi arabia's explanation of a washington post reporter's death credible. others including "the washington post" publisher are calling the jam khashoggi died in a fist fight a cover-up. as bill neely reports, some analysts say the saudi story is all designed to protect one man. >> reporter: friends of jamal khashoggi demanding justice today. outside the consulate where saudi arabia now admits he was killed. just hours after this

new video, shown on turkish television, appears to show him relaxed with his fiancee. many don't buy the saudi claim that he was killed in a fist fight. president trump said today, he finds it credible. >> it was a big first step, it was a good first step. >> reporter: saudi arabia says it has arrested 18 men and fired 5, including two close aides to the saudi crown prince, muhammad bin salman. the saudis didn't provide any evidence didn't explain why a state forensic official was here during the killing with, say the turks, a bone saw. and they didn't say why their man got rid of the body. the saudis have launched a new investigation of their intelligence services, headed by the crown prince. the man widely suspected of wanting khashoggi silenced. >> everything is designed to protect and shield both the king and the crown prince.

>> reporter: the saudis hoping their explanation will make the story disappear. bill neely, nbc news, istanbul. it's one of the world's most contagious human diseases. and tonight measles is sparking new concern after years of decline. in the u.s., the cdc has confirmed 137 cases in 24 states and the district of columbia. in europe, measles cases have reached a record high. nbc news medical correspondent dr. john torres reports from the front lines on what is fueling this epidemic. >> reporter: it's a disease that should be under control. but right now, a raging epidemic of measles is overtaking europe. >> it was really painful. i had a high fever, i was destroyed. >> reporter: sylvia lives in rome, she was 32 weeks pregnant, surprising diagnosis, measles, a disease without a treatment.

>> i decided to do a c-section. i went into quarantine for five days. i couldn't see my baby. >> reporter: how frightening was that experience?. >> extremely. i still have nightmares. >> reporter: sylvia is one of thousands of people diagnosed with measles here in italy. part of a record setting outbreak across europe. >> we have a very serious situation, people are dying from measles. this was unbelievable until five or ten years ago. >> reporter: top health officials tell nbc news the root of the problem is plummeting vaccination ra the growing anti-vaccine movement. spreading fake science across social media. >> it's unacceptable to have that in the 21st century linked to decisions that should have been -- and could have been eradicated.

>> reporter: in italy, the anti-vaccine movement led the newly elected government to relax school vaccination laws. a similar trend is now playing out in the u.s. where the cdc warns the number of children not getting vaccinated is growing. >> 41,000 cases this year across europe. is that a bellwether of what could happen in the u.s. if our vaccination rates keep dropping? >> what we're seeing in europe could happen in the u.s. >> reporter: a grim warning as this once rare disease makes a deadly comeback. dr. john torres, nbc news, rome. in london today, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets britain's impending exit from the european union. they want a final say on the brexit issue and demanded a new referendum which theresa may has ruled out. despite increasing opposition to the plan. britain is scheduled to leave the eu next march. by now you've probably heard nobody won the huge mega millions prize last night. so today the billion

dollar jackpot jumped again to -- get ready, $1.6 billion. a world record. the next drawing is tuesday night. in the meantime, the next powerball drawing happens in a couple hours, with a jackpot a mere 470 million. if you're going to play, there's an interactive feature about the luckiest numbers on nbcnews.com. check them out. still ahead tonight, fighting the effects of parkinson's disease. and why more patients are taking a swing at beating the symptoms. we'll find out how these kids are building superpowers of their own.

we're back with a surprising activity that helps people with parkinson's deal with the debilitating symptoms. boxing, with all its moves is becoming increasingly popular for those with the disease. kristen dahlgren takes a look. >> reporter: for cecilia, a parkinson's diagnosis felt like the end of life as she knew it. >> i was upset. i didn't know what my future would be. >> reporter: the little understood neurological condition can cause tremors and difficulty moving. michael j. fox, alan alda and muhammad ali are among the famous people diagnosed. about 60,000 new cases in the u.s. every year. and no known cure. so now, many are hitting the disorder from a different angle. in this boxing class, everyone has parkinson's.

>> the tremors have decreased, they're smiling more, moving quicker, interacting better. >> reporter: barbara russo never exercised, since her parkinson's diagnosis, she doesn't miss a day. >> you have control, you are cognitively aware of what's going on, and it just continues. it's great. >> she's got a mean -- jab there. >> yeah. >> wow! >> reporter: doctors say there is medical evidence that exercise reduces stiffness. improves mobility and balance. >> people feel they can improve their strength and endurance and as a result of that, may not need as much medication. >> reporter: rock steady boxing is a worldwide program designed specifically for parkinson's patience. -- patients. here they push hard. >> you are going to sweat, lady. and you're going to feel exhausted by the end. and you do, but you pep right up. >> reporter: even the yelling is designed to

keep vocal chords from freezing. a workout for the body and mind. >> it's giving them the idea that this isn't a death sentence, there's a life ahead of them and they can inspire others. >> reporter: how long are you going to keep boxing? >> until my next breath. -- until my last breath. >> reporter: she knows the key to feeling better is right in her hands. kristen dahlgren, nbc news, brooklyn. we're back in a moment with a sweeter side of policing.

♪ an emotional scene at a hospital in toledo, ohio, where keith urban performed a personal concert for the young woman he calls his number one fan. before his concert thursday night, he surprised melissa enh,uffe from a number of life threatening conditions. after nurses started a social media campaign to get him to visit her, and he did. the police use all kinds of vehicles to do their jobs. in phoenix today, another one joined the fleet. the city's first police ice cream truck, it's not about chasing down criminals, but s might be called a de giving out treats to engage with people in a more personal way. when we come back, the amazing upgrades changing kids lives, designed largely by them.

let's end tonight with a story about what is possible, in this case, helping ms and overcome their challenges by giving them a new kind of power. joe fryar explains. >> reporter: inside this workshop, there are no limits. here kids with limb differences create prosthetics fit for a superhero. >> for a lot of these kids, we're looking at reframing their disability as a superability. >> reporter: they call

this five day program, superhero boost. >> it's fun because you get to be really creative, and you're given tools, and you get to learn new things every time. i just love it. >> reporter: jordan reeves was born with a left arm that stops just above the elbow. you say that people stare at you, is that hard? >> i have my days where i wish i could hide it completely. where i'm just like -- hi. >> reporter: she first came to superhero boost in 2016. how cool do you feel wearing this? >> i feel pretty snazzy. >> reporter: building an arm that shoots biodegradable glitter. not recommended on a windy day much. good. >> reporter: the program gives kids a chance to work with professional designers and engineers, experimenting with 3d printers and voice activated technology. >> snake launch.

>> there you go. >> reporter: this year, ryder is designing an arm that will launch fake plastic snakes. why do you like snakes? >> because they're really cute. >> reporter: kendi's creation will hold gems that light up and change color. >> i'm psyched to have this and put it on my shelf. and be like, hey, i made that. >> reporter: during presentations on the final day, her vision becomes a reality. possible by grit and a bit of glitter. joe fryar, nbc news, san francisco. that's nbc nightly news for this saturday. tomorrow we're going to go where the buffalo roam and visit the men and women that protect this national symbol. i'm jose diaz balart. reporting from new york. thank you for the privilege of your time. and good night. now.

good evening and thanks for joining us. i )m garvin thomas. terry mcsweeney and anoushah rasta are off tonight. we begin with the weather arigh. goeng and thank you for joining us. i'm garvin thomas. terrie mcsweeney and unusual aire are off tonight. hazy weather lingering across the bay area. can we expect a change any time in our meteorologist rob mayeda is tracking >> the hazy skies due to low clouds and smoke pollution trapped under the inversion over the bay area. you can see the low clouds there. and the smoke we see coming or a ride offshore brought in by the

on shore winds. we had locally. and for tomorrow a smoke advisory from the drift fromming from the north. what would help would be rain falling to the north or perhaps returning to the bay area. one of our weather model does bring needed rain in the southern oregon helping the wildfires there. one of our long range models brings increasing chance of rain to the bay area. when you can expect to the showers to return in the forecast at 6:15. >> thank you very much. we'll continue to monitor conditions on the social media pages. another great resource, the free nbc bay area app including the forecast for your neighborhood. dozens of people in